A NEW dog breed could have been started after a dalmatian and Bernese mountain dog produced a surprise litter.

The offspring - two cuddly puppies - have been given the title Bermatians. (See gallery for more pictures.)

Owners Cath and Graham Wilson were amazed at the birth of the pups from the accidental mating. They arrived after the couple's dalmatian, Tom, mated with their seven-year-old Bernese, Cassie.

Cath and Graham, of Croston near Chorley, have scoured the internet and contacted experts but have been unable to find any evidence that the dogs exist elsewhere.

Cath said: "They're the most beautiful puppies I've ever seen. The parents are the most opposite dogs you could ever think of. Tom the dalmatian is only a year old and we thought he was too young to mate, whereas Cassie is getting on a bit. She is seven and this is her first ever litter - and her last!"

The two pups are a male called Arnie and a bitch, Angel. They were born with black bodies, white feet, white tips on their tails and black ears.

Spots

In the last few days, their dalmatian spots have started coming through and their personalities are already as opposite as their parents.

"Arnie is not even a month old and he is already a big chunk, while Angel is very sweet," said Cath.

"Every day people want to come and look at them and I've got about 250 of them waiting to visit. For the first two weeks I had to sleep downstairs on the settee with the pups because Cassie didn't know what had happened. Now she is great with them and Tom is being a good dad."

Cath and Graham used to breed dalmatians but got Cassie because she was completely different to the dogs they'd had before.

Vet Michael Clarke said: "When you cross two breeds it doesn't automatically generate a new breed.